ToRAISE Questions Doula Podcast

Thérèse and Melanie to talk with Joy Outland Brock, LCSW, a toLabor trained doula about perinatal mood disorders, the different categories and how to identify them. The Educated Birth toolkit binder is a trusted resource for doulas, birth workers, and educators. Created by Cheyenne Varner, it includes 155+ pages of inclusive, illustrated education covering pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum —...

Thérèse and Melanie talk with Rachel a doula from Arizona about a recent birth she attended. The Educated Birth toolkit binder is a trusted resource for doulas, birth workers, and educators. Created by Cheyenne Varner, it includes 155+ pages of inclusive, illustrated education covering pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum — designed to help clients feel informed and supported. Get 10% off with...

Thérèse and Melanie talk with Cristin Pascucci about ACOG's debate at their annual meeting in regard to induction for all women at 39 weeks. The Educated Birth toolkit binder is a trusted resource for doulas, birth workers, and educators. Created by Cheyenne Varner, it includes 155+ pages of inclusive, illustrated education covering pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum — designed to help c...

Thérèse interviews 3 doulas who began in solo practice but who have now expanded their business to include other doulas and other services. The Educated Birth toolkit binder is a trusted resource for doulas, birth workers, and educators. Created by Cheyenne Varner, it includes 155+ pages of inclusive, illustrated education covering pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum — designed to help clients...

Thérèse and Melanie answer a listener's question on how to support a client who has intervetions. The Educated Birth toolkit binder is a trusted resource for doulas, birth workers, and educators. Created by Cheyenne Varner, it includes 155+ pages of inclusive, illustrated education covering pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum — designed to help clients feel informed and supported. Get 10%...

Thérèse and Melanie to talk with Melissa Yeager, a toLabor Certified Professional Birth Doula about circumcision and boundary lines. The Educated Birth toolkit binder is a trusted resource for doulas, birth workers, and educators. Created by Cheyenne Varner, it includes 155+ pages of inclusive, illustrated education covering pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum — designed to help clients feel i...

Former podcast moderator Sarah Allen-Short join Therese and Melanie to discuss input from listeners in regard to Episode 71, The Spirit of Being a Doula The Educated Birth toolkit binder is a trusted resource for doulas, birth workers, and educators. Created by Cheyenne Varner, it includes 155+ pages of inclusive, illustrated education covering pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum — designed to...

Sarah Allen-Short joins Melanie to have a talk about Thérèse and what she is facing currently. The ToRAISE Questions Doula podcast offers thoughtful, unfiltered conversations for doulas and birth workers who want to deepen their knowledge, elevate their practice, and uphold the integrity of birth work. Each episode features insights from experienced professionals in the field, helping you grow wit...

Thérèse turns the interview table on Melanie. They discusses how Melanie came itno birth work and how it has evolved into a full time career. The Educated Birth toolkit binder is a trusted resource for doulas, birth workers, and educators. Created by Cheyenne Varner, it includes 155+ pages of inclusive, illustrated education covering pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum — designed to help clien...

Case Study:Marie from Florida talk with Thérèse and Melanie about a situation she had with a client that raised a lot of questions for her in regard to defining her role and her boundary lines. The Educated Birth toolkit binder is a trusted resource for doulas, birth workers, and educators. Created by Cheyenne Varner, it includes 155+ pages of inclusive, illustrated education covering pregnancy, l...

 Thérèse and Melanie have a conversation about the spirit of being a doula and maintaining your integrity. The Educated Birth toolkit binder is a trusted resource for doulas, birth workers, and educators. Created by Cheyenne Varner, it includes 155+ pages of inclusive, illustrated education covering pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum — designed to help clients feel informed and supported. Get...

Thérèse and Melanie share stories while discussing birth work and what it has unexpectedly brought into their lives. The Educated Birth toolkit binder is a trusted resource for doulas, birth workers, and educators. Created by Cheyenne Varner, it includes 155+ pages of inclusive, illustrated education covering pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum — designed to help clients feel informed and supp...

Thérèse and Melanie record live at the RVA Birth Event 2016. Listen to their conversation with Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein and numerous guests who stop by to chat. The Educated Birth toolkit binder is a trusted resource for doulas, birth workers, and educators. Created by Cheyenne Varner, it includes 155+ pages of inclusive, illustrated education covering pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum —...

Sarah and Therese discuss with Marcia a labor and birth that she attended 2 years ago that emotionally took its toll on her related to her client's reaction to her in the postpartum period. The Educated Birth toolkit binder is a trusted resource for doulas, birth workers, and educators. Created by Cheyenne Varner, it includes 155+ pages of inclusive, illustrated education covering pregnancy,...

Thérèse and Melanie discuss a listener's dilemma who cannot figure out how to cover all of the important topics during her prenatal visits with her clients.  The Educated Birth toolkit binder is a trusted resource for doulas, birth workers, and educators. Created by Cheyenne Varner, it includes 155+ pages of inclusive, illustrated education covering pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum — d...

Happy New Year! The ladies are on a much-deserved break but didn't want you all to go without. Here's a ToRaise Flashback in which Sarah and Thérèse talk about the challenges and joys of a doula's on-call existence. Enjoy!  The Educated Birth toolkit binder is a trusted resource for doulas, birth workers, and educators. Created by Cheyenne Varner, it includes 155+ pages of inclusive...

Thérèse and Melanie discuss one of the most common challenges of a doula, when do you go be with your client in labor? Is it ok to come and then go? How do you know? Is there a formula for this ongoing circumstance? By discussing 2 births that Melaine recently attended, examples are shown as to how you can perhaps have more clarity on this somewhat mysterious predicament.  The Educated Birth toolk...

Thérèse and Melanie answer a listener's question in regard to episiotomies vs tears, is it better to be cut by a PCP or to allow the body to tear on its own? Which heals better? The Educated Birth toolkit binder is a trusted resource for doulas, birth workers, and educators. Created by Cheyenne Varner, it includes 155+ pages of inclusive, illustrated education covering pregnancy, labor, birth...

Thérèse and Melanie welcome Jennie Jospeh, LM, CPM of Commonsense Childbirth based in Orlando FL to discuss racial dispartities in maternal healthcare. Jennie has been working tirelessly to provide access to care to pregnant women, with a focus on the African American population, in hopes of reducing the infant mortality rate by reducing premature births and the number of low birth wieight babies...

Thérèse and Melanie talk about the importance of speaking with your client, both the pregnant person and their partner about what they have been told about their birth, what their perspectives and beliefs are.and how the culture at large can impact these constructs. The Educated Birth toolkit binder is a trusted resource for doulas, birth workers, and educators. Created by Cheyenne Varner, it incl...

Thérèse and Melanie welcome Sarah from Texas to discuss a client who has had 2 cesareans after two labors, a planned cesarean and now is attempting a VBAC. The Educated Birth toolkit binder is a trusted resource for doulas, birth workers, and educators. Created by Cheyenne Varner, it includes 155+ pages of inclusive, illustrated education covering pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum — designed...

Thérèse and Melanie talk about how to discuss and help sort out who, if anyone their client wants to invite to their birth. If someone is invited, what conversations can take place to help make this is a good experience for all. What if someone assumes they are invited, how is this negotiated. The Educated Birth toolkit binder is a trusted resource for doulas, birth workers, and educators. Created...

Thérèse and Melanie discuss the logistics of older children attending the births of their younger siblings. If a parent wants a child to participate, how do they best prepare that child so the birth will be the best experience for all. The Educated Birth toolkit binder is a trusted resource for doulas, birth workers, and educators. Created by Cheyenne Varner, it includes 155+ pages of inclusive, i...

Thérèse and Melanie invite two partners/husbands into the studio to discuss the role of supporting an active doula. What does it take? What are the downsides of this role? What have they learned along the way? What have they found works and doesn't work. An excelelnt and honest look of the impact of this work on personal relationships The Educated Birth toolkit binder is a trusted resource fo...

Thérèse and Melanie discuss a whether having a child is a prequisite to being a doula? What if you become pregnant , should you continue offering services while pregnant and if so, when do you take a pause? When do you return? Can you take your baby with you to a birth? The Educated Birth toolkit binder is a trusted resource for doulas, birth workers, and educators. Created by Cheyenne Varner, it...